I met John Karlen about 20 years ago at a restaurant I was watiing tables at in Beverly Hills. I stopped him in his tracks on the way to the restroom. I said, I know you won the emmy for Cagney and Lacey, but, you will always be Willie Loomis to me. Man, was he nice. He sat down with me (my boss gave me permission) and talked about how much the fans of Dark Shadows surprised him. He was still grateful for us all in keeping some memories of a great time in his life alive. He was so nice. After he finished dining, he found me in the bar and told me I made his night for remembering Dark Shadows and gave me a big hug. How about that. Will never forget it.

@jeanettesmith765

3 жыл бұрын

I love the shmuck, Johnny Karlen. He was one of my favorite DS characters.

@catsofsherman1316

3 жыл бұрын

RIP John Karlen. Love Willie Loomis. Great actor. Nice guy.

@thomaspiccirillo6820

3 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Johnny was a great man! My dad was a video engineer on DS and I was very close with Louis Edmonds.Thank you! It's great when celebs are supportive and humble like JK

@tiger38able

3 жыл бұрын

I loved him as Willie Loomis! Watch the movie "House of Dark Shadows" - he was so awesome in it!

@debbiexoxoxo6628

2 жыл бұрын

WOW, that's fantastic. You're so lucky.

Best soap opera in the history of america

@FilPol-yu1es

Жыл бұрын

Dark Shadows..was more than a soap opera imo. It was ART.

its so easy too see why the 1960s was the best era ever...The Music,Tv Shows,The Movies, The Culture ....I'm glad I got to expierence it.

@trissloan2340

4 жыл бұрын

Best era??? Most turbulent era since the Civil War; Vietnam, assassinations of JFK, RFK, MLK, Malcolm X, Chicago and Watts riots, widespread serious domestic Left wing anti-gov.t groups, Manson Family murders . Some amazing films, 2001, but what stood out as superb above all else was the music.

I ran home from school , to be in front of that black and white set , when the waves were crashing all about. I can't believe we still have Dark Shadows. Love you all

@kaymad143

4 жыл бұрын

Me too!

@jeanettesmith765

4 жыл бұрын

I was one of those kids who ran home from school to watch it as well.

@vickimiranda7667

3 жыл бұрын

Wow and I thought that I was the only 13 yr old to be running home from school, just to watch DS!

@christyowens4185

3 жыл бұрын

Me too, and I was 10. That's what I looked forward to after school. Right at 4:00.

@thepickypainter9854

3 жыл бұрын

I ran home too. My granny would have the show turned on for me. Was so madly in love with Barnabus. I WAS 12

Seems like John Karlen got the hugest round of applause. Guess there's a lot of love out there for Willie.

@mitch26

6 жыл бұрын

he has had health issues and was basically just checked out of nursing care. We were all so happy he made it many including myself ever thought he would.

@jeanettesmith765

4 жыл бұрын

He stole every scene he was in. Loved him!

The Original Dark Shadows..Still is Magical to this day. Enchanted work of Art with first-rate EVERYTHING.💝

This show, far more than gym class at school, kept Americas youth fit by all the running home to watch it they did, and yes, I was one of them. Would make it home in about 10-12 minutes.

Every time I hear the Dark Shadows theme music, I immediately time travel back to a place and time where I remember exactly where I lived, what time of day it was, who I was with, what school I was in, what we would have for dinner and what is was like to be young....it's scary and amazing at the same time. I find myself saying things now, that my parents and elders said back then, that I swore I would never say like..."it was a different world when I was young". Now I understand. Thanks for the memories!

@JoeKentMagic

7 жыл бұрын

Ditto ... same here

@eileen1820

7 жыл бұрын

I totally get it. This show was probably my earliest memory ever. I was born in the late 60's but I SWEAR I remember those crashing waves and being SCARED but I think also, very intrigued. It sure was a different world. I may be romanticizing it, but I do miss that time. Appreciate your sentiment.

@SINCITYJIM1

3 жыл бұрын

I can relate. When I was a kid in the '60's, my mother would watch Dark Shadows and I always liked the eerie music & crashing waves but the storylines, (pre Barnabas era) bored me. I just thought it was another of my mom's soap operas. UNTIL that one infamous day that Willie opened the coffin. I remember sitting on the sofa with my mom when that happened and she said "oh my" and I said "cool". And from that day I was hooked. From Vampires, Frankenstein's monster, ghosts galore, time travel...I watched it practically everyday till it was cancelled.

@TheBob3759

2 жыл бұрын

A different and much better world.

Aug 26, 2023: I was terrified of Dark Shadows as a teenager, but 'real life' has been far more frightening. I understand a lot more now, especially the conflict and heartbreak portrayed in the television series. Blessings, Kate

No sex, no cursing, just clean fun. Loved the bloopers and fluffed lines soooo much. Poor Julia had a very bad coughing spell, tears running down her cheeks, cameras rolled mercilessly. These pros did not even miss a beat but they had to be popping a gut laughing inside. Jonathan Frid was the funniest, and his short line "it is sightly incoherent" was certainly adlibbed when Trask signed his "confession". I think he was a comedian at heart.

We can't forget Joan Bennett , she also made the show.

@divinemissem5677

5 жыл бұрын

She had been dead for awhile by the time this happened

@KEVS6975

4 жыл бұрын

She was maybe the most beautiful women out of them all IMO.

@Ransomhandsome

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah ... she couldn't make it.

@novastariha8043

3 жыл бұрын

She was born in 1910 !! Much older than the rest certainly this group to whom Were the young people of the show born in 1940’s

I remember coming home from school and at 4:00pm sharp we would all gather round a black and white TV set and watch this half hour show, not missing a second, every day! I loved Johnathan Frid and Lara Parker and the girl Josette and Quinten and all of them! I loved the love triangle between Angelique and Barnabus and Josette. I loved Thayer David too. I just loved them all. I must have been around ten or eleven years old! I toast you all! Thank you so much for the enjoyment of the show!!!!!! I give you all my standing O!!!!

@elizabethshaw734

7 жыл бұрын

Jean Keats me and my best friend same. gosh those were the days. :-)

@alexisrose1457

7 жыл бұрын

Elizabeth Shaw yes they were... I looooved Quentin.... Lol

@skywatcher54

7 жыл бұрын

I have that same memory....every day after school.....that and the Monkees show...couldn't miss them

@rareform6747

6 жыл бұрын

We would run home from school !

@jamesmc1016

6 жыл бұрын

I was an 11 year old boy when this show came on TV and I was hooked on DS until the end. When it ended I felt as if I had lost a dear friend. I just loved this show, it was my escape during this period of my life.

I love these people, especially John Karlen. I was so sad to hear he had passed away a few months ago. Willie Loomis will live in my heart forever❤️ Dark shadows was a huge part of my childhood. I’m watching it again on Tubi after over 50 years!

They were all so beautiful and handsome, oh why do we have to get old.

@annchovey2089

5 жыл бұрын

"Maggie" and "Angelique" still look great.

@gaylemalone5897

5 жыл бұрын

It's life we all age

@dr.migalitoloveless1651

4 жыл бұрын

That's life.

@zimjun7

3 жыл бұрын

It's called "Adamitis!"

@rocioaguilera3555

11 ай бұрын

If we don't get old, we'd die young 😢

David Selby still looks great and handsome.

@dr.migalitoloveless1651

4 жыл бұрын

So do Lara Parker and Maggie Evans.

@jeanettesmith765

3 жыл бұрын

He is handsome, and for those that are not handsome anymore, I love them too!

I was born in 1968, and I remember sitting on the couch watching Dark Shadows with my mother when I was little - I was very young. I have been a huge fan ever since, and I carried on the tradition with my son who has watched all the Dark Shadows episodes, and he loves them as well. To me, this is one of the very best shows ever made.

@GLBizzie

4 жыл бұрын

U were like 2-3 when the show got cancelled as if u remember sitting on the couch.. lmao

I LOVE THEM ALL THEIR SPIRIT IS TIMELESS

I would run home from the 1st grade to watch this show with my sister! great memories.

I think that this is so amazing! I love that Dark Shadows was, is and will always be so beloved by so many fans & that the actors are still coming together. I really wish Mitchell Ryan & Alexandra Moltke & David Hennesy would show up. I hope to make it to one of these soon.

wow im so amazed at how many of us ran home to see this ,,i did too i knew i had to run home because i was a walker and didnt want to miss the beginning

I am currently watching the show on Prime, on episode 697,season 13. It’s interesting to see them now in this video older, and after 50 yrs. Trying to figure who’s who. I only recognize Maggie and Willie. Great clip.

Born in 1961 I too run home to watch! 60's TV was the best. Dark Shadows, Star Trek and Batman ALL premiered in the same year!

@kaymad143

4 жыл бұрын

I was born in 62 and also couldn't wait to get home to watch it!

Lara Parker and KLS are still beautiful. And KLS seems to have the same sweet personality that Maggie Evans had,

@GLBizzie

4 жыл бұрын

That‘s because KLS wasn‘t a real Actress when She joined DS.. She technically just played herself lmao

@mitch26

2 жыл бұрын

She was actually in a few plays previously.....

makes me feel old can't believe its been 50 year.

I totally love ALL of these people......thanks to them and their talent I have thoroughly enjoyed Dark Shadows for years....

I have the complete anniversary DVD series and am currently watching as I missed many shows in 66 to 71 due to school and homework, I was 7 years old at the time. I love this show and all of the wonderful actors/actresses. Thank you for this amazing series. Thank you for the memories. Much love to you all

I absolutely loved this show. I ran home every day after school to watch it at 4 pm. I had a Barnabas Collins game. I think this show was partly responsible for my love of horror and science fiction. For anyone else who grew up in Cincinnati, I bet you remember the Cool Ghoul also and watching Scream In on Saturday nights. Anybody else from that part of the country? Do you remember the Cool Ghoul?

I watched the first episode and loved it. I wish Alexandra would attend Too!

Attended this event and met most of the cast in the autograph line. Kathryn Leigh had to go into the ladies' room and found out it was the men's room and all the men ran out and let her have it all to herself. She had a good laugh. All the stars were very gracious.

David Selby is still hot. Still the most distinct hairline in television❤

Thanks so much for posting this great session. I had tickets for the entire weekend but couldn't attend due to an accident. Wonderful to see everyone again!

My mother was the first to watch this show in the afternoon, and we caught her getting up to change the channel so we couldn't see what she was watching (pre remote control days). We immediately wanted to know what it was and she went drama queen again and said; "Fine. I hope you get nightmares over it!" I did, and so did all the classmates of mine who I pushed the show on. I was one of the speed racers who jumped off the bus three blocks from home and ran like Barnabus was chasing me home to watch it. What great memories.

what a great and special momment, it brings me back to my lovely childhood

wow , just great they come do this . people were so lucky to meet them

wish Thayer David had still been around for this , he was the best

@megablasterboc7474

2 жыл бұрын

Thayer David was an absolute pro and at the top of his craft while on the show. It's a shame that he died of a heart attack just 8 years after leaving the show, he had so much to offer the acting world.

I used to have the 45 of "Quinten's Theme". Still love that song.

Thanks so much for a great reunion vid ! I am a major latecomer to the Dark Shadows world. I had heard of the show but never saw any of it until very recently. I started watching at episode 1 and I am up to episode 261 now. This was a truly different and interesting show,I hope to watch every episode!

During that show Lara( Angelique) Parker what is a Goddess ,she had the most mesmerizing eyes

@Innovisualistic

Ай бұрын

She had an incredible Lip Quiver ive never seen any other actress utilize that. It was dramatically frightening

Love it. I watch it now on Roku every night. So glad of that.....awesome show.

i would run home from 3 rd grade to watch this soap

@alexisrose1457

7 жыл бұрын

denise gerber karlinsky Lol I was in the 6th and I ran home too... I was addicted to this show

50 freakin' years, holy crap!!

If you haven't read them, yet, Lara Parker has written an excellent series of books, based on the original characters. You should look them up. :)

@TheBob3759

2 жыл бұрын

Angelique's Descent is one of them. I have it.

@FilPol-yu1es

Жыл бұрын

Yes..they're very good. Parker finds "heroine" ways of Excusing All of ANGELIQUE'S terrible behavior...which is just how Angelique saw Life. Perfect.👌

I think they all look amazing & I'm thrilled to see them all together! What a fun group of artists! Can you imagine the shenanigans on set? Thank you mitch26 for posting this video!

watching this show on hulu....good memories

Just found this. Funny how many said they would run home every day to watch it. I did too.

I wasn't allowed to watch it. I was very little, but I remember how crazy my mom and grandmom were for Barnabas. My father bought the 45 with Quentin's theme on it. It was a few years later before cable when one of the local UHF (that's dating me I know) started to re run the series. I have only just started watching it again on DECADES channel.

Wow! What an ensemble of super talent!

You never knew who would become a vampire. I always liked Angelic! Liked her hair.

I love all of you. Thanks for the memories and thank God for the video's.

Kathryn Leigh Scott still looks fantastic but she looks better with dark hair than blond hair. Lara Parker still looks absolutely gorgeous!

@FilPol-yu1es

Жыл бұрын

KLS is embracing the "I'm a lady of a certain age..and I'm celebrating it!"

"Some of the cast actors had done other daytime soap operas with the exception of Roger Davis,Kathryn Leigh Scott,& David Selby Dark Shadows was the only daytime soap they had been on the actors that had done other soaps were: Jerry Lacy:Dark Shadows,As the World Turns,Love of Life, the Secret Storm,the Young & theRestless,& Generations. John Karlen:From These Roots,the Doctors,Dark Shadows, & Love is a Many Splendored Thing; James Storm:Dark Shadows,One Life to Live,the Secret Storm, the Doctors,Texas,Capitol,the Young & the Restless,Sunset Beach, & the Bold & the Beautiful.; Christopher Pennock:Dark Shadows,Somerset,General Hospital, Days of Our Lives,the Young & the Restless,& Guiding Light; Marie Wallace:Dark Shadows,Another World,Somerset, Guiding Light,& One Life to Live; Donna Wandrey:Dark Shadows,As the World Turns,Ryan's Hope, & the Edge of Night; Lara Parker Dark Shadows,& Capitol; Sharon Smyth:Search for Tomorrow,& Dark Shadows."-🤔🖥☕☕🇺🇲..

This is a wonderful video! My close friend Chuck Lee Welch, who appears in the video at the 39 minute mark sounded great. Chuck just wanted you to know that, so stop worrying, you did fine. 💖💖💖

@mitch26

10 ай бұрын

Thanks !

I enjoyed DShdows very much still watch it on DVD All the cast were great

best scary show ever

How I love this and all of them!

It was so fun getting to ask them my question! Lots of interesting answers! I was the orange haired girl at 21:54

@jeffgorham8819

8 жыл бұрын

That was a dang good question!

@The4thSandersonSister

8 жыл бұрын

Jeff Gorham Thanks! I had written down a bunch before I went to the convention, but I thought that one would generate some cool answers!

@lynnmitzy1643

6 жыл бұрын

This did generate some great answers. Now , I have to go watch the series again.

Too bad that Jonathan Frid isn't there!!

@mitch26

7 жыл бұрын

It's hard to attend when you're dead.....We felt his spirit though, no one seemed up for a seance....

@RyanG13

7 жыл бұрын

I'm actually suprised that noone brought him up, or that none of the audience members asked any questions about how it was to work with him.

@mitch26

7 жыл бұрын

These are questions they have answered many times, most of us are regular attendees, a few go all the way back to the original festivals in the 70's. Many of us have met and spoken to Jonathan and he was well discussed at this convention if not here.

@RebeccaJayne5x5

5 жыл бұрын

Be a bit scared if he was...he is dead after all!

@dagmard6783

5 жыл бұрын

And Julia, what a great actress Grayson Hall was. R.I.P. as well as "Barnabas"!

Best soap Opera EVER ♥️🌟💙🙏🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Love these actors!

Thanks so much for posting this!

Remember to show very well early 70s coming home to watch it with my sisters only soap opera I ever watched

Just started watching this series a couple of years ago and I don't recognize anyone except Maggie Evans. I'm up to episode 263.

Quentin Collins was my first love, I fell at the age of 10, watching reruns after school! Then to find out years later, he’s a fellow West Virginia native! I was truly smitten! ❤

So very cool to see this!

I do not recognize a few of these actors. I wish there was a list of them. David Selby reading the words of Quintin's Theme was incredible!

@mitch26

3 жыл бұрын

The cast is introduced as they take the stage.

I love you guys so much you have no idea

John Karlen is a cool dude.

I wanted to see David Selby so bad,never made it still so upset about it.

I was in the front row for this, sitting next to Jim Storm's girlfriend. :)

@ramsey1922

5 жыл бұрын

Great group and great memories

I rarely got to see Dark Shadows as a kid. My very strict parents wouldn't let us watch TV until we did all of our homework which would take us until 7:30 to complete (between dinner), then bedtime an hour later. :(

I was there ! It was awesome !

My mother would have absolutely loved the chance to have met James Storm! Gerard Stiles was one of her all-time favorites and I must presume one of her former teenage crushes too with how much she still swooned at his sight when me and her used to watch DS episodes together twenty-five years later. She even told me once that she had almost succeeded in naming me "Gerard" too when I was born, named after him of-course!

@regionalunityproductions4378

7 жыл бұрын

I understand he moved to Nashville and became a session musician many years ago.

@mitch26

6 жыл бұрын

No.....

@divinemissem5677

5 жыл бұрын

He's a photographer and travels around the western US.

Lov all of them ❤❤❤❤

Great video. Thanks for posting it.

😀 Thank You for posting ❤👏❤👏❤👏❤

@mitch26

2 жыл бұрын

You are so welcome

They are so old especially if you are watching the series now! We original fans are too!

Love dark shadows

i've been to the ds festival 4 times 1997 1999 2001 and the last in 2003 i had the pleasure of meeting a lot of the cast members over those years including kathryn leigh scott and lara parker in 01 i met david selby they were all really great to us. in 97 i bought a hat at an action that belonged to michael stroka i got the inside of it autographed by all the cast members denise nickerson rip even wanted to wear the hat when ever she was there. she and i ended up kind of becoming friends because i always let her wear it what a great time i had anyone reading this if you've never gone to a festival i highly recommend you going. you'll have the time of your life.

@mitch26

10 ай бұрын

Denise Nickerson was a great child actress that was one of the best on the show. Some of the stories I have heard about her only make me love her more.

@danielcorreard3746

10 ай бұрын

@@mitch26 yeah denise was just as nice as the stories you'v heard just a wonderful person i was devastated by her passing i considered her a friend.

Anyone else from back then have a Barnabas ring? There wasn't a product associated with the show that I know of, but kids in my neighborhood did.

Didn't recognize John Karlen... AT ALL. Kathyrn Leigh-Scott.... still a hottie!

@vinnyvincent53

7 жыл бұрын

Mic Mal .she will always be a hottie

@jeanettesmith765

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, but when John Karlen started talking, it was Willie Loomis again!

JERRY LACY..still a hottie!

@jimkilbane5180

3 жыл бұрын

So true!

David Selby sigh! He was the handsomest man ever to me!

Thanks Quentin (David Selby). Cheers

This is so amazing!

Love this show

Jerry Lacy looks very good

The show may be over, but Dark Shadows will live on forever, casting it's delightfully sinister spell on us ....into eternity...................

John Karlen is hilarious!

@charlaharmon776

6 жыл бұрын

I think Jerry Lacy is still fine!

Rip John

I learned my first incantation from Angelique Bouchard

Selby looks cute !

Never been to a Dark Shadows Fest Wish I had !

Time is a merciless bitch. But hey these folks have handled Father Time pretty well. Hey I wonder why Kate Jackson never graced them with her presence.

Gerard Stiles was my most despised villain. What a scumbag. Must have been a lot of fun for James Storm to play that part.

Q lástima q no sea subtitulada al español saludos desde chile

I remember I went to see the movie dark shadows in the theater couldn’t sleep for a week so scared

Wish they'd miked everybody more closely -- and they'd worn big nametags :-s

Too bad Jonathan Frid and Joan Bennet aren’t there.

@curtwoods

3 ай бұрын

They both passed a long time ago

Put your damn phones down!

Nice to see Americans having fun,